Free, anyone can join!
Top 10 in America!
Top pick by both
Teacher & Parenting
magazines!
Welcome to the home of National Parental Involvement Day & Public School Volunteer Week!
Parent Engagement Counts
Our Family Engagement Program Step-By-Step
"A 10% increase in parental participation (a form of social capital) would increase academic achievement far more than a 10% increase in school spending." This is not an argument against school budget increases, but an argument for paying attention to social capital (Putnam, Sanders 2001). Research repeatedly correlates family engagement with student achievement, yet this strategy is rarely activated as an integral part of school reform efforts (Weiss et al, 2010).
How much economic value does family engagement add to your schools? Some 43% of K-12 parents volunteer at school according to U.S. Department of Education data. The Independent Sector says that the latest value of a volunteer hour is $25.43. Each parent who takes the Parental Involvement Pledge is generating $254.00 in volunteer impact. Imagine if 43% of the families in your community volunteered in your schools by taking the Pledge! The value far exceeds the cost a $400.00 One-Year Family Engagement Toolbox! Our program can increase family engagement by considering these steps:
Barriers & Benefits
Benefits and barriers to involvement exist for both schools and families. Some barriers are created by limited resources, while others originate from the beliefs, perceptions, and attitudes of families and school staff.
10 Step Plan
Engage with Project Appleseed’s family engagement tools
There are three essential aspects of parent engagement — connect, engage and sustain. Using your Pledge is the critical step that moves the compact from planning to action,
Title I Model Compact
U.S. Department of Ed. research finds that learning compacts like the Parental Involvement Pledge have the greatest impact on homework completion, school climate, student discipline, and reading at home.
Parent Report Card
Parental Involvement Report Card. This is a self diagnostic tool which quizzes parents on their involvement. Use these 31 questions as a guide to discover some of the ways that parents can help their child at home and at school.
Welcome All Families
Welcoming Atmosphere
Walk-Through
Can your school be so welcoming, so inviting, and so comfortable that every person who walks through the doors believes they are about to have an amazing experience?
Our 150 Days!
There are roughly 150 plus days between Project Appleseed's National Parental Involvement Day in November and Public School Volunteer Week in April, each school year. Each day, each week, represents an opportunity to engage parents!
Certificates
Awards and Recognition
The school will recognize accomplishments of volunteers in at least one school-wide event and on the school board. Project Appleseed Certificates of Parental Involvement for schools and parents are part of the Parental Involvement Toolbox.
Logic Model
Although family involvement in education is not an original idea, a systemic and integrated approach to family engagement represents an innovative strategy in education reform. It taps into an overlooked strategy that can leverage improvements in student learning.
Buy Our Toolbox